STORRS -- Joe Morrone, who coached the University of Connecticut soccer team for 27 years, has died. He was 79.
UConn officials said Morrone died Wednesday night at his Mansfield home after a long battle with cancer.
Morrone coached the UConn men's soccer team from 1969 to 1996. The team won the NCAA Division 1 National Championship in 1981, defeating Alabama A&M in overtime.
Funeral plans are pending. UConn is planning a remembrance Saturday at the team's game against Rhode Island.
When he retired, he was only one of four collegiate head coaches with at least 400 career victories. His record was 422-199-64.
He was inducted into the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 2002.
The soccer stadium on the Storrs campus is named after Morrone.
Information from the Associated Press is included in this story.